OLD BOYS' DINNER

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1933, Page 10

OLD BOYS' DINNER

NEW ZEALAND SCHOOLS A CHEERFUL EVENING

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 6th December. • 'Old boys of colleges, high schools, and other secondary schools of New Zealand dined together last night at Vernon House, the headquarters of the' Overseas League. It was a happy idea. Two years .ago something similar on a smaller scale was carried out, ana when Mr. Forbes was over for the Imperial Conference old boys assembled for an afternoon reception. This, however, was the first time old boys had met for an evening party on a large scale. It was a great success. The order was "day dress and no speeches." Tables were placarded with the names of schools, and representatives were present from the Auckland Grammar School, Christchurch Boys' High School, Christ's College, Nelson College Otago Boys' High School, Waitaki High School, Wanganui College, and Wellington College. - Mr. C./J. Wray was in the chair in the absence of Sir Thomas Wilford. It was interesting to examine this colony of New Zealanders who have gravitated to the centre of the Empire. There was a. sprinkling of men whose schooldays' started, in '1880. There were other men of fifty, .well-establish-ed in some important business connected with New Zealand produce. There were medical men who have settled hefe and put up their miniature plates in Harley street, and there were men of a younger generation-who are. still at the universities of this country. [ The older men listened with great interest to the annals of their old schools in more modern times, of the= changed staffs, of tha final days of the masters they knew. The younger men heard of the "good old days" when the schools were in their infancy. Wangariui pledged Auckland in a toast;1 Boys' High School, Christchurch, pledged Christ's College, and.they sat together in .perfect amity at the same-table. Waitaki pledged Nelson. After dinner the party retired to another room. Where they amused themselves with community singing. ' "Dear Old Pals," "John.' Peel,", '.'John Brown's Body,!' "My Bonnie,'f and a dumber of other old favourites were sung with vigorous New Zealand voices. One young schoolman with a good voice sang a Maori song unaccompanied. School songs were sung, and if no school song was available groups of other schools took the stage and proved their vocal talents with something generally popular. Otago men thrilled the audience^ —and the waiters—with a Maori haka. Hesitations and a. masterly pianoforte piece were also included in the impromptu programme. It was a very'cheerful evening, and most assuredly it will be repeated. THE LIST OF GUESTS. The following are the names of those who attended:— . ... l Auckland Grammar School: Major Hely Pounds; Messrs. T. B. Chine,1 H E. Hull. ' ■■■;. Christchurch Boys'' ■>High School: Messrs. A. Sims, T. J. Pemberton, J. Struthers. Christ's College: Messrs. J. H. Lascelles, IX B. Balcombe-Brown. ■ ,- Nelson, College: Captain N. Macleod; Dr. P. J. Jory; Col. D. A. Chaytor; Eev. E. K. Mules; Messrs. T. 'Stuart-Menr teath, J. C. Ohaytor, D. M. Tombs. Otago Boys' High School:. Dr. W. Sowerby, Dr. L. M. Park, Dr. I. H. Maelean, Dr. Thomas Mill, WingrCommander K. E. Park; Messrsl Douglas, H. B. Wadie, A. B. Jack, M. E. O'Shea, Maine. Waitaki: Dr. Ives, Dr. Lennox"Douglas, Dr. A. J. 'Harrop; Messrs; E. do Tries, M. Maurice Smith, C. S. Murgatroydj H. C. Murgatroyd, Wilson. Wanganui' Old Boys: Air Commodore C. T. Maclean, Dr. A. E. Porritt, Major W. C. Hartgill; Messrs. C. J. Wray, G. Holdsworth, J. H. Coleman, S. M. Watson, E. G. de Gruehy, B. J. Harris, W. D. Allen, C. Eeeve, I. B. Tavefner, W, Edward Beid. . Wellington College: Eev. E. K. Young, Dr. Leo Mandell; Messrs. S. Jacobs, M. Nathan, J. D. Scott, W. L. James, J. Loughnan, G. G. Burns. Other Schools: Major W. F. 'Narbey, Major E. E. Harston, Dr. S. L. Wilson, Col. E. ff. Lascelles; Messrs. C. S. JTaire, J. H. Wilkinson.